DVSA releases new videos to help learners prepare for driving test changes

From 4 December 2017, candidates will have to carry out the 'show me' question while they are driving.

Published:10:59Updated:12:10Thursday 14 September 2017

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With less than three months to go to until the driving test changes, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published new videos about the updated ‘show me, tell me’ driving test questions.

During the test, examiners ask candidates two vehicle safety questions - these are known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. Currently, both questions are asked at the start of the test, but from December 4 2017, candidates will have to carry out the ‘show me’ question while they are driving.

Lesley Young, DVSA chief driving examiner, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.

“Asking a ‘show me’ question while driving will be valuable preparation for real life driving.

“With less than 3 months to go until the driving test changes, it’s important that learner drivers work with their driving instructor to make sure they can operate the in car-controls safely whilst they’re driving. Combined with practice with an instructor, these new official videos will help you learn the skills you need to do these tasks.”

The two new videos released by DVSA show how to carry out these basic safety tasks. They will prepare new drivers for regularly carrying them out after they have passed their test, helping them keep their vehicle safe to drive all-year-round.

In the new test, the examiner will ask the ‘tell me’ question (where the candidate explains how they would carry out a safety check) at the start of their test, before they start driving. They include things like explaining how they would check the oil levels for the engine or how to check the tyres are legal and safe.

Then later in the test, the candidate will be asked a ‘show me’ question while they are driving - for example, showing how to wash the windscreen and operate the wipers. The questions test whether candidates can carry out the sort of everyday basic safety tasks drivers need to be able to do while driving.

The agency has also updated its ‘DVSA official guide to learning to drive’ book to include all the new elements of the practical test. This edition will be available to buy from September 18, from www.safedrivingforlife.info/shop or most online or high street bookshops.

Carly Brookfield, chairman of the steering group for national approved driving instructor associations (NASP), said: “Whilst in-car, on the road practice with a professional driver trainer is an important part of delivering safer drivers for life to our busy roads, we also recommend the use of supplementary learning resources such as ‘how-to’ videos from authoritative sources in driver education.

“DVSA’s new ‘show me, tell me’ and other recent videos highlighting key developments to the practical driving test are a really helpful resource for learners - not only in preparing them for the new test, but also for a life time of safe driving.”

If a candidate loses, control of the car whilst answering the ‘show me’ question it will result in a serious or dangerous fault, meaning the candidate fails the test.

A ‘driving fault’ will be incurred by the candidate if they answer both the ‘show me’ and the ‘tell me’ questions incorrectly.